Prelude & Fugue ‘Alkmaar’

The Prelude and Fugue "Alkmaar" was composed in 1971 specifically for a concert Wills was scheduled to perform in Alkmaar, Netherlands. Originally, Wills had intended to play a completely different, similarly titled piece that he had written back in 1963. However, during preparation, he realized that the earlier work was physically and dispositionally ill-suited to the specific mechanics and historic tonal resources of the famous Alkmaar organ. Rather than compromising, he set the 1963 piece aside and wrote this entirely new work to perfectly match the instrument.

Arthur, in his memoir says that “Tours have their merits in the concentration of the mind on performance over a sustained period, and in the enjoyment of travel, but some single concerts stay in the mind perhaps even more - an especial historical venue and distinctive instrument perhaps. Alkmaar, with its Schnitger organ inspiring a prelude and fugue from me is a good example...”

Writing in 1984 in his book Organ Arthur talks about “modern” organ music, the present and the future, speaking particularly of the influence of the Neo-classical organ and where that might lead.
“Certainly I was inspired by the Alkmaar organ to write a prelude and fugue for it, and I have composed a trio sonatas with the classical organ in mind. Nevertheless I do not see much future for the Neo-classical style in composition, unless we use the word ‘classical’ in its spiritual meaning. Organ music can certainly do well without the ego-based romantic spirit, but even in the nineteenth century Widor was subjugating this to a more architectural and objective approach in his symphonies. More as inspired decoration, rather than self-expression, or as an expression of a divine order - this must be the spiritual basis of the new organ music, and it is already present in the music of Messiaen”